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December 8, 2015 - November 20, 2016

HOLYJubilee YEAR OF MERCY

December 8, 2015, is a very important day in the . First, it is the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It is also the fiftieth anniversary of the closing of the . And it is the date for the beginning of the Jubilee Holy Year of Mercy.

Earlier this year, Francis In this letter, states that mercy announced, in a homily at is “the beating heart of the Gospel” (12). The a penitential liturgy during Church is called to live and testify to mercy. The Lent, that there would be a Corporal Works of Mercy, based on Matthew 25: Year of Mercy. He spoke of 31-46, teach us how to live that message and God the Father truly being command of Jesus. (For suggestions on ways rich in mercy as the Pope to practice the Corporal Works of Mercy, link reflected on the Gospel story to “With My Family: The Corporal Works of of the woman who washes Mercy.”) the feet of Jesus with her tears and dries them with her hair (Luke 7:36-50). Pope Francis You may be wondering, what exactly is a pointed out the connection between the love of Holy Year. Here are some FAQs that may help the sinful woman and the merciful love of Jesus to explain the Jubilee Holy Year of Mercy. for her. Love and forgiveness are simultaneous.

With that, Pope Francis announced an What is a Jubilee Holy Year? Extraordinary Jubilee that has at its center the There is a long tradition for a Jubilee year, going Church’s mission to be a witness to the mercy back to the Hebrew people, as seen in Leviticus of God. It will be a Holy Year of Mercy. 25:10: “This fiftieth year you shall make sacred by proclaiming liberty in the land for all its “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful” inhabitants. It shall be a jubilee for you, ….” (Luke 6:36). The Jubilee year was a time of great joy as well as a year of pardon. During a Jubilee year, debts On the Second Sunday of would be forgiven, slaves and prisoners set free, Easter, April 11, 2015 – and the land restored to its former owners. Divine Mercy Sunday – the letter announcing The current Catholic tradition of the Holy Year the Jubilee of Mercy was began in 1300, with Pope Boniface VIII. In 1475, released, titled Misericordiae the celebration of an ordinary Jubilee year was Vultus: Bull of Indiction of changed from every fifty years to every twenty- the Extraordinary Jubilee of five years, so that each generation would be Mercy by Francis, Bishop of able to celebrate at least one Holy Year. The last , and Servant of the ordinary Jubilee Year was observed in 2000. Servants of God. There is a strong spiritual significance to a Jubilee Holy Year. It is considered a time of pardon, and a plenary is given to renew our relationship with God and neighbor. Most important, it is a time to deepen our faith and renew our commitment to Christian witness. A pilgrimage to a sacred place, normally Rome, is usually part of a Jubilee Year.

A pope can also call an Extraordinary Jubilee Holy Year, as is the Year of Mercy, for a special occasion. Pope Francis called for this Jubilee Year to begin on the Fiftieth Anniversary of the closing of the Second Vatican Council. The Pope sees a great need to keep the vision of Vatican II alive, that all Christians “bear witness to their faith” and be a “living sign of the Father’s love” in the world (, 4).

What is a Bull of Indiction? There are several types of papal documents such as , apostolic letters, , and constitutions. The papal “bull,” from the bulla, comes from the word for the leaden that was applied to the document. Today, a All four major basilicas in Rome have Holy Papal Bull is an apostolic letter with a seal. The Doors that are open during the Holy Year. St. Pope always uses the of Bishop of Rome Peter’s Basilica is the first one to open, and then and Servant of the Servants of God in issuing a the Holy Doors at Saint John Lateran, Saint Paul papal bull. Outside the Walls, and Saint Mary Major. The Pope traditionally opens the Holy Door at Saint The Holy Doors Peter’s. He will sometimes designate a cardinal to open the Holy Door at the other basilicas. The rite that begins the Jubilee Holy Year is the opening of the Holy Pilgrimage Door. This massive door Thousands of pilgrims flock to Rome during to ’s Basilica a Jubilee Holy Year to enter through the Holy in Rome is only opened Doors. There is a special indulgence offered to during a Holy Year. The Catholics who make this journey to Rome. opening of the Holy Door Since most Catholics are not able to make a reminds us of the words pilgrimage to Rome, the Pope allows each of Jesus, “I am the gate. diocese to designate a special Holy Door in the Whoever enters through me will be saved . . .” diocese. Most often, this is one of the doors to (John 10:9). “The Door of Great Pardon,” as the cathedral. It can also be a designated door at these bronze doors are called, tell the story of a special church in the diocese. humankind’s sin and redemption through the mercy of God. Jubilee Indulgence During a Jubilee Holy Year, Catholics may gain a plenary indulgence. A plenary indulgence is a total remission of the temporal or worldly punishment due to sin. The New Catholic Encyclopedia states that an indulgence, in its primary sense, signifies the kindness and mercy of God. But in the special sense of a plenary indulgence, it is a remission of the temporal punishment due to sin, the guilt of which has been forgiven.

The requirements for this plenary indulgence are going to confession, receiving communion, saying a prayer for the Pope, freedom from all attachment to sin, and visits to the four basilicas in Rome during the Holy Year. For Jubilee Holy Year: this Holy Year, you may gain the indulgence The Year of Mercy by going through the Holy Door in your local diocese — you do not have to travel to Rome. A Jubilee Holy Year is a very joyous time in the The other requirements still remain for the Church. This is the year to celebrate a generous plenary indulgence. and rich gift from God our Loving Father: the gift of mercy.

In the next article, suggestions for practicing mercy and celebrating the Year of Mercy in daily living will be provided. Be sure to take advantage of this wonderful opportunity to celebrate the Jubilee Year of Mercy.

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